Final answer:
Auditory information is processed by differentiating the intensity and timing of sounds arriving at each ear, using binaural cues for horizontal localization of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
Auditory information is split and processed by our brains using binaural cues to determine the location of sounds. Sounds originating from one side of the body are generally louder and reach the corresponding ear slightly faster, producing interaural level differences and interaural timing differences. The brain analyzes these differences to localize sound along a horizontal plane.
The interaural timing difference occurs because a sound will reach one ear microseconds before the other if its source is off-center. Similarly, the interaural level difference is the variation in loudness between ears caused by the head blocking some sound waves, making the sound quieter in the ear further from the source. Our auditory nuclei in the brain stem are responsible for integrating these cues to map out the environment's sounds. Monaural cues also assist in localizing sounds, but they relate to the interaction of sound waves with the outer ear, or pinna, which is helpful for identifying sounds above, below, or behind us.